Hawaiian Bros scrambles to stay ahead of new Kansas City competitor. So far it’s working

Kansas City’s homegrown Hawaiian Bros Island Grill has opened a “digital kitchen” in Overland Park.

The to-go operation is at 6957 W. 75th St., on the south side of 75th Street and east of Metcalf Avenue.

The company said the “reduced footprint” does not offer a dine-in option but it is another way to get its products to customers.

The new location also is just across the street from a new competitor.

Last June, Utah’s Mo’Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food said it would be entering the market. It started remodeling a former KFC at 7006 W. 75th St. with plans to open by that October. But it is still working on the Overland Park building.

Then in August, Mo’Bettahs confirmed locations for Blue Springs, Liberty and Olathe.

While the Blue Springs Mo’Bettahs has yet to open, Hawaiian Bros soon had a restaurant in the works just minutes away, and it opened on March 7.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Mo’Bettahs said: “While there have been some construction delays tied to supply chain issues that many in the industry are similarly facing, Mo’Bettahs can’t wait to open in KC with their newest store design. It’s going to be an amazing location and worth the wait to get it right.”

There were no updates on opening dates.

Hawaiian Bros officials were not available for comment on the competition with Mo’Bettahs. The company currently has locations in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. About a dozen are in the Kansas City metro.

This story was originally published May 2, 2022 at 11:05 AM.